לְאַהֲבָ֞ה (lə·’a·hă·ḇāh) in Deuteronomy 30:16: Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular
לְאַהֲבָ֞ה (lə·’a·hă·ḇāh) in Deuteronomy 30:16
Source Word
The BSB+ row for Deuteronomy 30:16 links the English rendering "to love" with לְאַהֲבָ֞ה, Strong's H157, and the parsing label Prep-l | V-Qal-Inf | 3fs.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
The form clarifies that "to love" is part of the commanded covenant response in Deuteronomy 30:16, paired with walking in the Lord?s ways and keeping His commands.
How To Communicate It
In explanation, this form can help readers see that love is not isolated from obedience in this verse; it stands in the command sequence.
What Not To Say
- Grammar should serve context, not override it.
- Do not make an attached prefix carry more interpretive weight than the sentence gives it.
- Do not treat the attached suffix as a complete theology of the participant; let the verse identify the relationship.
- Do not detach the infinitive from the preposition or clause that governs its force.
- Do not make the Qal stem prove that love is simple, shallow, or merely inward.
What Does The Label Mean?
Hebrew-verb
Verb
Qal
Infinitive
Not marked
Not marked
Not marked
Construct
Prep-l
Third person feminine singular
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular
The infinitive phrase supports the clause's purpose, circumstance, or repeated pattern; the surrounding preposition and sentence clarify the force.
This form carries the BSB rendering "to love" within Deuteronomy 30:16. Deuteronomy 30 gathers covenant return, the nearness of the command, love for the Lord, obedience, and the call to choose life.
What The Form Does In This Verse
The commanded covenant response in Deuteronomy 30:16, where love for the Lord is joined with walking in His ways and keeping His commands
The prefixed lamed preposition on a Qal infinitive construct, within Moses? command in the verse
It expresses the "to love" response that belongs to the command sequence, not a detached feeling or isolated lexical idea.
It does not by itself define the whole doctrine of love, covenant obedience, or human ability; the verse and passage supply those boundaries.
How Much The Form Matters Here
High: The form carries the command-shaped "to love" phrase in a covenant passage where love, walking, keeping, life, and blessing are closely joined.
Lamed-prefixed Qal infinitive construct in a command sequence. expresses the dependent verbal response "to love" within the sequence of covenant obedience. Attached to the command to love the Lord in Deuteronomy 30:16. Governed by the prefixed lamed and the surrounding command syntax. The infinitive phrase should be read with the coordinated commands and promises in the verse.
What response is commanded in this part of the verse? To love the Lord your God.
Direct: The lamed-prefixed infinitive directly supports an English infinitive such as "to love."
A lamed infinitive can express purpose, result, or complement depending on context; Deuteronomy 30:16 ties it to Moses? command. The Qal stem names the verbal stem but does not define the depth of covenant love by itself. The attached suffix is recorded in the BSB+ morphology data, but the phrase?s meaning is governed by the command context.
Qal means love is simple or basic: Qal identifies the stem; Deuteronomy 30 defines the covenant response in context. lamed infinitive always means purpose in the same way: The lamed infinitive forms the dependent phrase, but the sentence decides the exact force. grammar alone proves a doctrine of human ability: The form marks the command phrase; the passage and canon must govern larger theological claims.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
The BSB+ row for Deuteronomy 30:16 links the English rendering "to love" with לְאַהֲבָ֞ה, Strong's H157, and the parsing label Prep-l | V-Qal-Inf | 3fs.
H157 is represented here by the lemma אָהַב. In this occurrence, the public guide is limited to the BSB rendering "to love" rather than every possible gloss of the entry.
The lamed prefix and infinitive construct form a dependent verbal phrase. In Deuteronomy 30:16, that phrase belongs to Moses? command and is coordinated with walking in the Lord?s ways and keeping His commands.
Deuteronomy 30 gathers covenant return, the nearness of the command, love for the Lord, obedience, and the call to choose life.
The form fits Deuteronomy's covenant pattern: redemption is remembered, the command is heard, and obedience is taught as life before the Lord.
When teaching Deuteronomy 30:16, use this form to show that love for the Lord is grammatically joined to covenant obedience in the verse.
Do not derive a full theology of love, election, or human ability from Prep-l | V-Qal-Inf | 3fs alone. The form marks the dependent "to love" phrase in this occurrence.